Flare-supporting bracket for aircraft



Sept. 30, 1930.. H. is. HOLT FLARE SUPPORTING smcxzr FOR AIRCRAFT Filed March 28, 1929 2 Shoots-Shoot 1 Sept. 30, 1930. H. E. s. HOLT FLARE'SUZPORTING BRACKET FOR AIRCRAFT Filed March 28. 1929 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 Fatented Sept. 30, 1930 UNITED STATES 'HAROLZD EDWARD SHERWIN iion'r, oun'onnon, ENGLAND FLARE-SUPPORTING rr acxnr rdnnmcnur Application filed Marches, 1929, Serial No. 359,768, and ill-Great Brita in April -'11, 1928.

This invention relates to the brackets employed for suspending flares and their shades under the wings of aircraft and has for its object to provide an improved construction a: of flare bracket and also a coupling head u whereby the easy attachment and securing of the bracket to the wing or conversely the detachment and removal of the bracket shall be greatly facilitated. r m The invention comprises a readily detachable portion or bracket proper provided w th a top or head having means for eflect ng mechanical and electrical engagement w th a coupling head which is permanently fixed on the aircraft anda quick locking and release member or catch arranged to secure the detachable bracket head to the fixed coupling head.

The invention also comprises other fea 2U tures ofconstruction as hereafter described.

In the accompanying two sheets of illustrativedrawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a flare supporting bracket constructed accordlng to th1s 1ng vention, the shade with flare holder being shown attached thereto,

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation ofthe same,

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the fixed and detachablecoupling heads in coupled position drawn on a larger scale,

Fig. 4 is a plan, a portion of the upper or fixed coupling head being supposedly removed, I

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the fixed coupling head partly in section, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the detachable or bracket head.

As shown the bracket comprises a top or head a with furcated depending limbs b to the lower extremitiesof which the shade 0 carrying the flare holder d is attached.

At one end of the bracket head a are beak like projections f and near the opposite end is formed a circular aperture 9 in which a rotary catch fastening h is mounted. The fas: tening 7 projects above the level of the top of the bracket head a, and is turned into the looking or release position by an arm or handle 71 attached to its lower end and moving in close proximity to or in contact with a serrated surface {on the undersi'de of the bracket 'head. A pair ofelectric'alicontactblades 7c tended to bepe'rmanently fixed 'by' screws to the underside of the wing of the aircraft. At

one end of thehead a two lugs l areformed having inclined upper faces'for the engage- 'ment of the beak-like'projectiojns f on the bracket head a and at the opposite end of thehe-ad a is a countersi1nk eye or aperture m 'into which the catch fastening h in the bracket head a is "adapted to" enter and to be secured by imparting a partial rotation thereto by operating the arm 2'. For'jthis purpose the part surroundingthe' eye} or aperture which is substantially circular in shape has a lateral recess a through which a corresp-ondmg projection '0 on the catch fastening it can pass and thenbe moved out of alignment therewith to lock'the parts together as will be understood, the bottom part of the aperture m on which the projection 0 slides, be-

ing appropriately inclinedas shown in Fig. 5 to insure that 'thebracket head a shall be --drawn tightly against the coupling. head a by the rotation of the fastening k.

'As shown the fastening h is held in the coupling position .by a spring catch 1) onits operating arm or handle 2' which engages the serrated surface j aforementioned or the arm itself may be arranged to engage directly, -with the serrated surface, if'it has sufficient resiliency. 1

A pair of tapered contacts 9 located between but-at alo wer level than the; lugs Z on the coupling headare arrangedrtomakea good electrical. connection with the; contact blades/ c on the bracket head a when theucou pling heads a, a/are coupled together, sothat currentcan pass from supplywires connected cated limbs b of which there are four, are stamped in pairs from sheet metal and attached by screws t Fig. 1, or similar means to apertured lugs 14 Fig. 6, on the underside of the head. By a suitable arrangement of radial slots or of three holes 4) for each screw in the limb stampings, as shown, the limbs and consequently the angleof the flare canbe adjusted in relation to the head.

The rotary catch fastening or coupling member h whichis mounted torotate in a circular aperture 9 in the bracket head as described is or may be slotted diametrically as shown at w to give sufiicient resilience to the fastening to enable it to function notwithstanding the presence of sand or other foreign matter which may enter between the engaging parts of the couplinghead.

I claim- I 1. The combination with a detachable flare supporting bracket for aircraft, comprising a top or head with'furcated depending limbs to the lower extremities of which the shade carrying the flare holder it attached, of a separate coupling head permanently fixed to the aircraft, and means for mechanically and electrically coupling the bracket head to the fixed coupling-head including interengaging members, electrical contact members and a quick locking and release member or catch.

2. A detachable flare supporting bracket for aircraft according to claim 1, the mechanical connecting means comprising a rotary catch fastening mounted i'n the top or head of the bracket and adapted to enter an eye or aperture in the fixed coupling head and to be secured therein by impartinga partial rotation to the catch substantially as described.

3. The combination with a detachable flare A supporting bracket for aircraft, comprising a top or head with'furcated'depending limbs to the lower extremities ofwhich the shade carrying the flare holder is attached, and a separate coupling head permanently fixed to the 1 aircraft, of means for mechanically and electrically coupling the bracket head to the fixed coupling head including interengaging lugs and projections on the bracket head and coupling head, electrical contact members and a quick locking and release member or catch, ar-

ranged, constructed and operating substantially as described.

4. A structure as specified in claim 3, wherein the limbs carrying the shade and flare holder are attached to the bracket head by:re- -movable fasteners passing through openings in said limbs in' such manner that theangle of the flare can be adjusted with respect to the head.

In testimony whereof he has aflixed his-signature.

HAROLD EDWARD SHERWIN. HOLT. 

